Homemade Mighty Taco Beef Copycat Recipe (2024)

Published: Feb 17, 2022 · Modified: Jun 20, 2023 by Faith · This post may contain affiliate links · 93 Comments

Deliciously seasoned with just the right touch of spice, this copycat recipe for homemade Mighty Taco Beef was inspired by the popular taco joint in Buffalo. Now that I live on the other end of the country, it's a life-saver when a hometown craving hits.

When I initially found out that my ex-husband and I were moving overseas, I had two thoughts race through my head along with the excitement and anticipation of moving: 1) I’m going to miss the food, and 2) I’m going to miss my family and friends.

Priorities, lol. (Kidding, mom!)

Back home in Buffalo, there’s a taco chain called Mighty Taco that blows just about every other taco chain out of the water. (IMHO anyway…but I’ll admit, I’m biased!)

I’ve talked to people who were disappointed in the place, but I think that’s because they were expecting it to be something it’s not. It’s not fancy on any level, so don’t expect linen tablecloths, soft background music, or ambiance of any kind. It’s just your run-of-the-mill fast food joint. But it’s actually one of the select few fast food chains I’ll eat from, and their Super Mighty Beef Taco on a soft whole wheat tortilla with guacamole is killer.

I knew I’d miss their beef when I moved, so I wanted to re-create it (or at least my version of it) before I left.

Full disclosure here, although this meal is a no-brainer (you literally just dump everything into a pot and let it do its thing), this isn’t a quick meal to make. There is about four hours of cook time, but other than an occasional stir, it basically cooks itself.

I haven’t tried this in a slow cooker yet, but I bet it would be fantastic (but I would reduce the amount of liquid significantly). If you make it in a crockpot, let me know in the comments!

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Flavorful, moist taco meat. Because of the blend of ingredients and cooking method we use for this recipe, you are sure to have moist and deliciously flavorful taco meat every time - no dry or crumbly taco meat here!
• Freezer-friendly so you have easy meals for later. This Mighty Taco Beef Copycat Recipe freezes really well! I like to freeze the meat in about ¾-cup portions so I can thaw a serving when I want to make tacos or a taco salad.
• It's a little bit of home if you're from Buffalo but now live elsewhere. I currently live in St Petersburg, Florida and make this when I'm missing Mighty Taco!

The Best Homemade Mighty Taco Beef Copycat Recipe

Ingredients in Mighty Taco Beef Copycat

• Lean ground beef (look for 93 to 95% lean)
• Water
• Canned no-salt-added diced tomatoes
• Onion
• Garlic
• Jalapeno pepper
• Tomato paste
• Apple cider vinegar
• Honey
• Chili powder
• Coarse kosher salt
• Dried oregano
• Ground cumin
• Black pepper

Step by Step Tutorial for How to Make Homemade Mighty Taco Beef

1. Add the beef and 8 cups water to a 5.5-quart pot over high heat.
2. Bring to a boil, and then once it boils, turn the heat down so it doesn’t boil over. Cook (uncovered) for 45 minutes, skimming off the fat as it rises to the top, and stirring occasionally.
3. As it cooks, this is how it will look. Continue skimming the fat off the surface.
4. Most of the water will cook off during this 45-minute cooking period. This is how the meat will look after 45 minutes.
5. Add the tomatoes.
6. And all remaining ingredients (including the remaining 1 cup water).
7. Give it a stir.
8. Turn the heat back up to high, and let it come to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat down so the mixture stays at a steady simmer. Cover the pot, and cook until the liquid is evaporated out, about 3 hours, stirring occasionally. (During this step, you basically want it just under boiling to let the liquid evaporate off as quickly as possible without burning the meat.)

How to Store Taco Meat

After it's cooked and cooled, you can store cooked taco meat covered in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

I like to divide the meat into ¾-cup portions per serving, and freeze the servings in individual containers or plastic bags so I can thaw as many servings as I need.

See Also

The Top Ten Recipes of 2010 from Kalyn's Kitchen (plus Ten Honorable Mentions)The 51 Best Ina Garten Recipes of All TimeInstant Pot Fresh Green Beans RecipeCrisp-Skinned Spatchco*cked (Butterflied) Roast Turkey With Gravy Recipe

Tips for Making This Mighty Taco Beef Copycat Recipe

• Use lean ground beef. We're going to be skimming the fat off the top as the meat cooks, so if you start with lean ground beef this step will be easier. Look for 93 to 95% lean.
• Don't shy away from the seasonings and spices. Some of the spice amounts might sound like a lot, but three pounds is a lot of meat! If you follow the recipe, you will end up with well-seasoned, flavorful taco meat that has a balanced flavor profile with just a hint of a kick.
• Yes, this needs the full 4 hour cook time. Most of the liquid will cook off during the first 45-minute cooking step when we cook the meat uncovered. The rest of the liquid will cook off slower during the 3-hour cooking period. If you don't rush it and just let it do its thing, the end result will be moist, flavor-infused, and perfectly seasoned taco meat that lets you enjoy a Mighty Taco copycat right in your own kitchen anywhere in the world!
• Keep an eye on it. While the meat is cooking, make sure you stir it occasionally. You might need to adjust the heat up or down slightly so the liquid can evaporate off as quickly as possible without burning the meat. And of course depending on a few different factors (including temperature, humidity, the age of the ground beef, etc.), you may need to adjust the cooking time (which is just an estimate).

Mighty Taco FAQs

What is in Mighty Taco Beef?

On their website and menu, Mighty Taco calls their beef "seasoned ground beef". In our homemade copycat recipe, we use a blend of beef with tomato, onion, garlic, jalapeno pepper, vinegar, honey, and spices for a balanced, well-seasoned flavor profile that's not overly spicy hot.

What Kind of Cheese Does Mighty Taco Use?

Mighty Taco uses Swiss/American cheese.

How do You Reheat Mighty Tacos?

Mighty Tacos are easy to reheat - even the homemade ones! Here is how to do it:

1. Preheat the oven to 375F.
2. Unwrap your soft tacos and wrap each individually in aluminum foil.
3. Place the foil-wrapped tacos directly onto the oven rack and bake until warm, about 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Use potholders to remove them from the oven. Cool slightly, and then carefully unwrap and enjoy!

What to Serve with Tacos

• Pico de Gallo (Mexican Salsa Fresca)
• Black Beans
• Mexican Corn Salad
• Chile Relleno Dip

Let's Connect

Did you make this recipe? Please rate it and leave a comment below. You can also tag @anediblemosaic on social media.

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This post was first published on An Edible Mosaic on September 13, 2013. It was updated with more information on February 17, 2022.